CAMILLEI wasn't sure which to worry about more.Martha's hovering presence or the mere thought of finally meeting Scott again.There was this exhilarating feeling that came with the anxiety of seeing him again. What it would be like, and how he would react.Not for a moment did I forget that I kicked him out on several occasions, but I still nursed the feeling that he would still come back for me – or maybe it was just my damn emotions getting in the way of my common sense.This dude is getting married, Camille, and for god's sake he is Jame's cousin who is way younger than you are, I reminded myself, why do you keep forgetting that?But even as I stepped into the hallway, all my mind was focused on was running into him.I had not seen Maya since the small exchange in the bathroom, and I was forced to assume that she had gone back home to continue preparations, and maybe Scott had returned with her too.It was already getting dark, and James was away with the other groomsmen for wha
SCOTTI haven't been to a lot of weddings, but I am convinced not all grooms wind up in bad states as I was.Sometimes I needed a reminder from a guest congratulating me or the mere sight of Maya to recall that I was actually getting married – and she was always within eye shots, I made sure of that.Sometimes I wondered why every woman I came in close contact to just turned out to be pregnant. It was just one afternoon of heartbreak and unconscious actions and now she is pregnant?Is that how it goes?I had not been able to talk to her since she told me about the pregnancy, but I was still very conscious about her and anything she was doing. I might hate her but not the baby she was carrying.I wasn't ready for one, the thought of it alone terrified me, but each time I remembered the pretty little bundle Lucille had showed me that night, I couldn't help but just feel drawn to the child she was carrying.It was the only reason why I went after her and begged her like a crazed man to n
CAMILLEWas this some sort of a joke?I looked at the guy I had assumed was a receptionist but he just looked back at me with confusion written all over his face.I had spent the past few days since the meeting with Katherine waiting for that moment when I could see him again and tell him everything I had in mind to share with him. But finally seeing him stand across the room from me seized every speech I had planned in my head.'I could just excuse you guys and come back some other time' he said and I wasn't sure if he meant that or not, because he could have just left when he asked the first time if it was a good time and got no response.'No, no, it's fine,' I replied quickly before he could change his mind. 'I don't think the room was intended to be private by the way' I shot the tour guy another glance but he was now looking at both of us with curiosity bubbling in his eyes even though he tried to keep it low.'Fine,' he said and looked around the room clumsily, like he was tryin
SCOTTIt's my wedding day, but it sure as hell doesn't feel like it.Unlike most men who only feel excited, anxious and in love on their day, I am quite in an opposite mood – confused, lost and broken.The whole situation with Camille had left me tongue tied all through the night, even while Maya paced up and down my room steaming threats.I had expected her to tell dad about the whole thing, and maybe call the wedding off. But there she was in front of the reverend, in a gown I would have found lovely and perfect if only it was on a woman I really loved and wanted to marry, and at that moment, with my mind still in its plagued state, I could think of no better fit.I bent my head to wipe a tear that had escaped from the mass that blocked my vision, and suddenly the small but beautifully decorated room warmed up with people “awning”. I wish they knew what my tears really meant, maybe one of them would take me far far away from these people and put me through intensive therapy.As I st
SCOTTI was more than surprised when I found her sitting in the hall with Martha for the reception.With the way she had run off earlier, I had assumed she had packed up her things and left immediately, but there she was, sitting in one of the best seats closest to the stage.Why will she even do that? Is she out to torment me with guilt or just to threaten me? Because it feels like she knows what a fucked up situation I am in and wants to make me feel as uneasy as possible.If that is it, then she is definitely doing a really good job.For the rest of the event, I tried as much as possible to avoid looking at her, but it was just a useless effort.My eyes were on her each time I saw James walk up to her to whisper something into her ears, my eyes were on her each time she adjusted in her seat or when Martha bent towards her to say something to her while rubbing her belly or just staring at it.And each time I looked at her, she looked so distraught and uncomfortable, it looked like s
SCOTTIt was winter, and the coldest one I had ever witnessed.Although Dad had agreed to let me spend the short break in the Thompson's villa because he had hoped it will strengthen the bond he had assumed was already growing between Maya and I. He was forced to cancel the arrangement went he learned that Mr Thompson's second daughter was already pregnant for me, and was even five months gone already.I remember how furious Dad was, I remember how we also lost the best of the china wares and most of the figurines and paintings in the living room and his study as well. I remember it so clearly because I am standing there in the room again, watching him destroy almost everything in it.Mom was quick to tug me away with her to her room upstairs where she made me sit and wait until she returned.I sat there all morning in my suit and nicely cut hair, not sure why dad was made and wondering when I get to leave for the villa.I sat there in her bed, waiting for her to return, or for someon
CAMILLEI was so foolish to believe that every other human had a breaking point but James.I was really so foolish to even think that he was not like other men or that he was just such a special and quiet man to ever think of hurting a lady, especially me.How could I have believed that of a man who I had just found out lied to me for more than eleven years and still had the guts to look at me as though he was also sympathetic about the whole situation?His new attitude for the next two days we spent in the hotel was a new one of which I would have sworn he could never do, but there he was, being a total prick to m in private and maintaining the normal charming face everyone thought him to be while we were among people – something else he controlled and made sure was less frequent until we left the hotel.Even his mom didn't seem to notice his change in attitude, or maybe she just kept pretending not to notice it.But all that did not break me as much as Scott's words did when we fina
SCOTTThere was no other way to make things right but this way – even if it meant walking in father's path and principles.I had to be a man.Not just a smart ass with extensive knowledge on how to run a company and a big business like ours, but also a man who can control the course of his life and the things that happen around him instead of just floating with each tide.I didn't just have to sit back and watch a woman stir me in any direction she dimmed fit, or as her emotions spurn her. I was to be the one doing the spurning.But even as much as I tried to convince myself, the more I felt like I was still doing all the wrong things, like I was really letting go of the most things that mattered more to me.No day passed by that didn't remind me of Lucille's words the last time I saw her in my dreams and heard her voice whisper all the good and bad things my life could become in the coming days if I threaded the right path. I still remember the chubby and pretty face of that little b
SCOTTSeconds passed by, and to me it felt like hours, it felt like ages.'How can you even say something like that? She was the love of your life for how many-' 'And she went ahead and slept with my own little cousin just a week or two after I got hospitalized? Tell me Scott, how long did you both know each other, tell me how long you guys had been fooling me for''But you can't just take her life for that mistake, what if she is happy? What if-''I do not want to remind you again Scott, I still hold the gun' he wiggled the gun in front of me to proof his point and I raised my hands in surrender, and all the time I just tried to keep my anger at bay and not end up doing something we were all going to regret.But I had to do something either way. There were not more than seven steps between us at that moment, and if I took very slow steps towards him I was sure he was not going to notice.'I am sorry about your pa and your wife. Damn, I didn't know there was some level of hate moving
CAMILLEI didn't understand anything that was going on , but I was damn sure that whatever it was was taking a hard toll on Scott.I watched him recoil when the blindfold was taken out of his eyes, and no expression or reaction of his missed my notice.I just wished I could hold him, I could at least get close enough to him and feel what he was feeling then. But then I already had a lot to deal with to worry about what someone else felt.But still.I was trying to make sense of their discussion, of what Maya was trying to say to him, but it all seemed fucked up and each revelation only made him even more withdrawn and definitely furious.And then his father.Okay, well, technically not his father, but how could he do such a thing to a son he raised as his all these years.I was trying to figure out how all that had anything to do with me until she called the name “Lucille”. I knew I had heard that name, somewhere, probably from...Yes, from Scott.That asshole, that was the name he ke
SCOTTI just sat there on the floor and watched her pace the room with the gun in one hand and a baseball bat in the other. She looked just like I always knew her to be – the real thug.'You know you all kept tossing me around and making me look like a messed up shit''That's because you are Maya, you are a crazy woman''No I am not Scott. You are the one who is crazy, you are the one who keeps thinking I am the evil one who killed my own sister and who still tried to come for your family. I am not crazy, but trust me you are such a foolish asshole,' she screamed and I couldn't help but laugh at her craziness.'I have known you well and I know you love to manipulate people into falling into your plans. Is that what you did to my dad too? Is that how you got him to get you pregnant and put it on me?''Well I am glad he is here and you will find out everything Scott''And you think I will be too foolish as to believe whatever you are going to say now when you have got us all under ropes
CAMILLEI had never experienced a lot of things in my life, and one of them was having a gun being pointed at me.And not just from anyone, but from a woman who looked like a mess.‘Of course I knew he would be here with your sorry ass' I heard her say, above the thumping in my ears. I could not think of anything else but the kids just in the next room.What if they got tired and just decided to come out?Oh God, I just wish they didn't. I can be the reason they have to deal with another trauma.'Hey, hello, h-h-how are you doing?' I stammered as I took several steps backwards until I hit the kitchen sofa.'How am I doing? Bitch I should be asking you that. Because you don't seem to be holding your shit together''Maya, just let her go, she has nothing to do with this' I heard Scott struggle to say while trying to get up from the floor. There was blood on his face, and it wasn't just blood from wherever he had gotten it from before.He was hurt, and it scared the shit out of me.She
CAMILLE'What the hell are you doing here? I thought we were done for good?' I stared at him with all the hate in my chest, one that melted as quickly as it tried to surface. There was no way I could ever be that mad at him, but I wish I could, at least this one time.I was really surprised to see him at my doorstep, especially since he was supposed to be enjoying his honeymoon with his new bride in London or wherever.He looked really bad with the blood on his hands and the bruises on his face and I was worried that the cobs might trace him down to my house and get me in the open as well.'Please can I come in at least?''The hell no, as a matter of fact I need you to leave' I said but I knew if he turned his back at that moment I would be on my knees begging him to come back.I didn't know how I got there but I knew for sure that was so so fucking in love with that guy. I couldn't stand him walking away yet again, and he didn't look like he was trying to either.'Please Camille, jus
SCOTTI sat back in the car for more than an hour, just watching her front lawn and wondering if I should go in – but then I had James to worry about.Everything looked as peaceful as it always used to be when James was in the hospital. I just wish he was never in the picture in the first place, then I would not have made a wrong choice in the woman I walked down the aisle with.I was just about to step out of the car when two men walked out of the house and they both left in a car. One of them was James and the other looked familiar, like I had seen him somewhere.Well, I didn't have enough time to think about that, I had to seize the opportunity and talk to Camille before James returned.I hurried over to the door and rang the doorbell, but no one opened up even after the third ring, and I was getting a little bit tensed up.What if she was out as well? What if she didn't even come back home with James after the wedding?How will you even think that James? She loves that man and tha
SCOTT'It's a surprise to see you here today Mr Scott' I heard Mrs Judith say and I wanted to tell her the real reason I was in her office after canceling our appointments more than a hundred times, but my lips were sealed shut in shock – just as they had been since after walking in on my so-called-wife riding my dad like a wild beast.'So, to what do I owe this visit today?' she asked again while pouring me a glass of hot drink – just as I always liked it before a therapy session. It always got me loose and helped me say things the way I felt them, but not that day.She didn't look the least bit frustrated with my silence or nonchalance, doing really well at maintaining her professional protocol.She finally set a glass of brandy in front of me and sat on the manager's chair opposite me.'I found out about your wedding to Miss Thompson to the press Mr Scott, and although I didn't have the perfect opportunity to, I still wish you a happy married life' That did it. that unsealed my lip
CAMILLEA month passed, and yet I still felt the sting from the stiffing blow James descended on me once we were behind doors at George's party.I didn't expect any less from him. From the moment he found out the identity of my child's baby I had only come to realize that the man I knew all my life was only a mask of who he truly was – a masked lion.I had returned to New York that same evening even against his own wish, and I surprised myself too with the courage I showcased. I wanted to apologize to Katherine for how everything had turned out, for not confiding in her, but who was I fooling?It would have been different if I had confided in her first, if I had trusted her enough to tell her the whole truth before publicly exposing her husband and rubbing the shame on her face in the presence of all the guests there who also respected her so much.But the next action she took was one I had never expected and the only reason why I deeply regretted my actions at that moment.It came as
SCOTTA month had passed since our wedding, and Maya was crazy about consummating it.I keep wondering if she really thought that getting married to me meant that everything between us will be put in the past like it never happened.I always made it clear to her how much of a mistake she was making, and the last thing she would expect from me again is the sex.She had even gone ahead to tell dad about the situation. Didn't she even feel the least bit awkward saying something like that to him in the first place?When I didn't listen to dad either, her best resolve was to delay the signing of any contract or business information that she had to sign since she was still the head of her family's company until the paperwork was done and I became a sole partner and a joint one too, the company's assets.I had tried to convince her about how unnecessary all that was since I knew with certainty that she was only doing that to get my attention even more attracted to her, but she stood firm on